Connective Home Loans has been around since 2003, with its head office in Melbourne, Victoria. It’s one of Australia’s biggest non-bank lenders, working through a network of over 4,000 mortgage brokers across the country. Regulated by ASIC and a member of AFSA, Connective focuses on flexible, practical lending options rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. From first-home buyers and investors to expats and self-employed borrowers, their products—including Elevate and other specialist loans—combine competitive rates with real-world flexibility.
In this review, we’ll take a closer look at what makes Connective Home Loans stand out and whether they might be the right fit for you. We’ll show you how working with an expert mortgage broker, like Hunter Galloway, gives you access to these exclusive products and expert guidance to find the right home loan for your situation.
Let’s dive in…
Table of Contents
What Are Connective Home Loans Like?
The top 5 things Connective Home Loans are good at:
- First home buyers with little deposit. Connective Home Loans aim to help those with little deposit get across the line.
- Fully assessed pre-approvals. Like ING Direct, they do fully assessed pre-approvals, meaning you’ll be able to make stronger offers on properties.
- Very strong self-employed products & flexible credit criteria. Connective Advance Home Loan could be the product you need if you are looking for a self-employed home loan. It is similar to Low Doc loans, and, depending on your deposit, you may not require your tax returns to qualify for a loan.
- Customer Service. Due to it being an exclusive lender to work with, they ensure that customer service is incredible. They also use ZipID mobile apps. So, if you live in a remote location, you don’t necessarily need to see your broker physically.
- Flexible Home Loan Products. When you apply through Connective Home Loans, you have access to more than 60 different lenders. There are no application or upfront fees. You also have the ability to do unlimited loan splits at no additional costs. This can be great for investors.
- They are good at financing duplex constructions. If you are looking at building multiple properties on one title, then Connective Home Loans could be the right option to consider. They will consider up to 3 dwellings on one title but have a few different terms and conditions, so best to check with our brokers that you qualify before filling out the paperwork!
The top 5 things Connective Home Loans aren’t so good at:
- They are funded by different banks and lenders. With loan products funded by Pepper, Adelaide Bank, Thinktank Commercial and Advantage/NAB having 2 Connective Home Loans could mean two different internet banking logins.
- There’s no branch access Connective is funded by other banks, so there is no branch access. Therefore if you need a bank that gives you access to deposit funds via a branch or want to deal with someone face to face – you might need to look at other options like Suncorp or Bank of Queensland.
- Lenders mortgage insurance can be costly. If you have less than a 20% deposit, you will need to pay Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI). The lower your deposit, the more you will pay in lenders mortgage insurance to protect the lender if something goes wrong.
- They don’t fall into the big bank category. Being a Mortgage Manager, Connective Home Loans use funds from big banks but aren’t a big bank.
- Not all Mortgage Brokers have access: If you are working with Aussie Home Loans or Mortgage Choice Mortgage Brokers, you won’t be able to apply for a home loan through Connective. At Hunter Galloway, we have Connective home Loans on our panel.
Table Summary: Pros and Cons of Connective Home Loans
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Flexible Lending Criteria – Ideal for borrowers with low deposits or past credit issues. | No Direct Bank Access – Operates through brokers; no physical branches for in-person support. |
| Diverse Loan Products – Offers a range of home loan options, including Elevate and Horizon, catering to various borrower needs. | Multiple Lenders – Funded by different institutions (e.g., NAB, Pepper Money), which may require managing multiple accounts. |
| Competitive Interest Rates – Provides attractive rates, especially for near-prime and specialist loans. | Lender’s Mortgage Insurance (LMI) Costs – Can be expensive for loans with less than a 20% deposit. |
| No Upfront Fees – Eliminates initial application or setup fees, reducing the cost of obtaining a loan. | Limited Online Information – Some users report difficulty accessing detailed information on rates and products online. |
| Strong Broker Support – Backed by over 4,000 brokers nationwide, ensuring personalized service. | Potential Processing Delays – Some customers have experienced slow response times and processing errors. |
What Are The Different Home Loan Products They Offer?
Connective Home Loans has a limited range of home loan products funded by different banks that you might be familiar with.
Today we are going to review Connective’s 3 most popular products.
1. Connective Essentials Home Loan
Connective Essentials Home Loan is ideal for First-time buyers, refinancers, and those seeking straightforward home loan features.
Key Features:
- Competitive Rates: Offers variable and fixed-rate options with no upfront fees.
- Flexible Repayments: Make additional repayments at no cost and split your loan up to four times.
- Redraw Facility: Access extra repayments via a debit card with ATM/EFTPOS access.
- Pre-Approval: Fully assessed pre-approvals valid for 90 days.
- Employment Flexibility: Accepts on-probation loan applications with as little as 1 day of employment in a full-time or part-time position.
- Digital Tools: Access to MSA Loantrak for real-time tracking of your application.
Perfect For:
Borrowers with clear credit histories and stable employment seeking a reliable, no-frills home loan.
Download: Connective Home Loan Essentials Handout and Connective Essentials Features
2. Connective Solutions Home Loans
It is ideal for investors, self-employed individuals, and those with less-than-perfect credit histories.
Key Features:
- High Loan-to-Value Ratio (LVR): Up to 95% LVR with no genuine savings required.
- Flexible Credit Policy: Available to people with bad credit history, including Part IX or X debt agreements or discharged bankrupts.
- Debt Consolidation: Strong debt consolidation policies, including the ability to pay out ATO debt and private or solicitor debts.
- Income Verification: No credit scoring; each application is manually assessed by a person.
- Loan Size: Loans up to $2.50 million.
Perfect For:
Borrowers who may not meet traditional lending criteria but have the capacity to repay.
3. Connective Advance Home Loans
This loan is great for Investors, property purchasers, or anyone wanting to purchase commercial property.
Key Features:
- Loan Types: Full-Doc, Mid-Doc, Quick-Doc, and SMSF loans available.
- High Loan Sizes: Loans up to $4 million for Full-Doc loans.
- Documentation Flexibility: Low or limited documentation loans for self-employed borrowers.
- Redraw Facility: Redraw facility with a Debit Card and ATM/EFTPOS access.
- Repayments: Additional repayments at no cost.
- Approval Process: Each application is manually assessed, which may result in slightly slower approval times.
Perfect For:
Borrowers seeking commercial or residential loans with flexible documentation requirements.
Connective Elevate & Specialist Home Loans
Connective Elevate offers flexible lending options for borrowers who don’t always fit the “perfect profile.” They assess each case on its own merits.
Purpose of Elevate Products
Elevate comprises four sub-types: Prime, Near-Prime, Specialist, and Specialist+.
- Prime is for borrowers with clean credit and strong income.
- Near-Prime gives more leeway to borrowers with minor credit blemishes.
- Specialist is for those with past financial issues, like defaults or short-term arrears.
- Specialist+ targets borrowers recovering from significant credit events (e.g. bankruptcy).
By offering this spectrum, Elevate helps more people access finance—even when mainstream lenders say no.
Who Elevate Suits Best
Elevate is ideal for borrowers who:
- Have lower deposits or minor credit blemishes
- Are self-employed and lack full documentation
- Want debt consolidation or credit repair
- Have had short-term arrears, defaults, or even a discharged bankruptcy
In short: if your finances are a little messy but improving, Elevate is worth a look.
Key Features & Flexibilities
Elevate brings features that traditional home loans might not:
- Flexible credit assessment: No rigid credit scoring. They evaluate your entire financial picture.
- Income flexibility: They accept a variety of income types, such as tax returns, BAS, accountant letters, or bank statements.
- Fast turnaround: Applications often reviewed within two business days, much faster than the industry norm.
- High LVR with no LMI (for Prime): Up to 90% LVR without paying Lender’s Mortgage Insurance for Prime Elevate.
- Debt consolidation options: Unlimited consolidation including ATO debts or private loans (depending on product).
- Relaxed credit rules:
• Judgements or defaults below certain thresholds may be ignored.
• Short mortgage arrears accepted in many cases.
• Discharged bankruptcies from 1 day may be considered.
Note: All features depend on product type (Prime / Near-Prime / Specialist / Specialist+), and subject to credit criteria.
How Elevate Works with a Broker
You can’t apply directly — Elevate is only available through accredited mortgage brokers.
Your broker will:
- Assess which Elevate sub-product suits your situation
- Help structure your application using the flexible criteria
- Submit it to Connective for evaluation
- Liaise with Connective on your behalf
Because Elevate relies on case-by-case assessment, your broker’s skill really matters.
Connective Home Loan Products Comparison
The following table compares the key features of Connective’s home loan products:
Feature | Essentials | Solutions | Advance | Elevate |
Ideal For | First-home buyers, standard borrowers | Investors, self-employed, poor credit | Investors, commercial buyers, SMSF | Borrowers with low deposits or near-prime/specialist credit |
Funded By | Advantedge (NAB) | Pepper Money | ThinkTank | Connective Partner Lenders (varies) |
Max LVR | Up to 95% | Up to 95% | Up to 80% | Up to 90% (Prime), lower for Near-Prime/Specialist+ |
Loan Size | Up to $2M | Up to $2.5M | Up to $4M | Varies by product/subtype |
Credit Policy | Standard | Flexible | Very flexible | Flexible, case-by-case assessment |
Documentation | Full documentation | Full or Low Doc | Full, Mid, Quick Doc, SMSF | Full or alternative documentation accepted |
Interest Rate Options | Variable or Fixed | Variable or Fixed | Variable or Fixed | Variable or Fixed, risk-adjusted |
Pre-approval Type | Fully assessed (90 days) | Manual assessment | Manual assessment | Manual assessment via broker |
Extra Features | Redraw, unlimited loan splits, extra repayments | Debt consolidation, rental income reliance | Redraw, commercial property loans | Tailored for unique credit situations, debt consolidation, flexible income verification |
Best For | Standard borrowers wanting simplicity and competitive rates | Borrowers with credit challenges or investors | Borrowers with complex financial situations | Borrowers who don’t fit mainstream lending criteria |
Connective Home Loans For Expats
Connective offers options for Australian expats and non-residents to get home loans in Australia. Horizon and Expat-/Non-Resident products make this possible with flexible terms.
Eligibility When You’re Overseas
- You can apply if you’re an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or temporary resident living abroad.
- Non-residents with income outside Australia may qualify under the Non-Resident product.
- Income in overseas currencies is accepted, and you may use alternative forms of verification.
What Documents You’ll Need
To apply from overseas, be ready with:
- Valid proof of identity, such as passport or national ID.
- Income documentation: foreign payslips, tax returns, statements in your home country or proof via accountants.
- Confirmation of overseas income currency and country. Some products allow income in terms of foreign currency.
- Details of savings, liabilities, credit history (both in Australia and abroad, if applicable).
How to Manage the Loan & Communication Remotely
- Use your mortgage broker as your main point of contact; they help navigate overseas application steps.
- Expect digital tools: online document uploads, video calls or electronic verification.
- Connective’s client portal and broker-tools allow you to monitor progress, repayments, redraws, offsets, etc.
- Currency fluctuations sometimes affect serviceability. You might need to allow buffers or show stable income in a major currency.
Restrictions & Additional Costs to Watch Out For
- Maximum LVR (loan-to-value ratio) often capped around 80% for expat or non-resident products.
- Loan amounts may have upper limits (e.g. <$2.5 million) for Expat/Non-Resident products.
- Interest rates or fees may be slightly higher to compensate for risk.
- Some countries may be excluded, or require special documentation. Always check the product guide via your broker.
- Depending on where you live, conversion of foreign income and tax rate usage may differ. Connective sometimes uses the foreign country’s tax rate rather than Australia’s.
What Are Connective Home Loan’s Interest Rates?
With Connective Home Loans having so many different types of funders, products and features, they also have lots of different interest rate combinations.
The right product and interest rate will come down to your situation, so get in touch with our Mortgage Brokers to find the best deal for you.
What Documents Do Connective Home Loans Need For A Home Loan?
You can’t just apply for a home loan with Connective Home Loans. Lending products are only accessible through brokers that are already members of Connective. The compliance regulations are strict on brokers who are a part of this to maintain top service and an industry-leading reputation.
Your broker will be able to go into more detail about the specific documents needed to apply for a connective home loan, but generally, the documents required include the following:
- Proof of income
- Details of any existing debts or loans
- Identification
Download: Connective Home Loans application form
What Else Does CHL Offer?
Connective Home loans offer bridging finance, which can help you get back on track when selling your home.
You’ll get features like:
- No repayments during the bridging period
- Salary crediting options for loan repayments and redraw
- Ability to use your existing transaction account for repayments – so you don’t need to move banks or change existing direct debit details!
That last point is one of the big advantages of Connective Home Loans.
While some banks will force you to open a bank account with them to make your loan repayments, Connective Home Loans is happy to just debit your existing day-to-day account.
Read More: Bridging Loans, how do they work?
Connective Home Loans FAQs
Who is Connective Home Loans?
Connective Home Loans is one of Australia’s leading non-bank lenders, established in 2003 and headquartered in Melbourne, Victoria. They offer a wide range of home loan products designed to suit first-home buyers, investors, and self-employed borrowers. Connective loans are only available through mortgage brokers, not directly to the public
Who funds Connective Select?
The Connective Select range is funded by Adelaide Bank, a division of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited. This partnership combines Connective’s broker network with the stability and backing of a trusted Australian bank.
Is it better to go through the bank or a mortgage broker?
In most cases, working with a mortgage broker can be more beneficial than going directly to a bank. Brokers compare loans from multiple lenders—including banks and non-bank lenders like Connective—to find a deal that suits your goals, budget, and credit profile. You’ll also get expert guidance through the entire home loan process, saving time and often money.
Can I apply for a Connective Elevate loan with poor credit?
Yes. Connective Elevate loans are designed for borrowers with near-prime or specialist credit histories. Approval depends on your financial situation and is assessed by a Connective broker, who can help present your application in the best possible light.
Can Australian expats get a Connective Home Loan?
Yes, Australian expats can apply for a Connective Home Loan through an accredited broker. However, extra documentation and compliance checks may be required due to overseas residency and income verification rules.
Is Connective Home Loans regulated?
Yes. Connective Home Loans operates under the supervision of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and is a member of the Australian Financial Security Authority (AFSA). These regulations ensure responsible lending practices and borrower protection.
Why Choose Connective Home Loans?
Connective Home Loans may be the best option for you due to their mix of excellent customer service, good interest rates and fast response time to set up a loan.
The support from CHL is also great, and they focus on solving out-of-the-box home loan situations.
So even if you don’t quite fit the perfect loan application, going through CHL may help you find a way.
Get in touch with one of our Mortgage Brokers to chat about your situation, or call us at 1300 088 065.
Next Steps And Getting Your Home Loan
Our team at Hunter Galloway is here to help you buy a home in Brisbane. Unlike other mortgage brokers who are just one-person operations, we have an entire team of experts dedicated to helping make your home loan journey as simple as possible.
If you want to get started, please give us a call at 1300 088 065 or book a free assessment online to see how we can help.
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